Why Are College Student Contributing Less Money for College? It Might Be the Internships

Today on Washington Monthly’s “College Guide” blog, Daniel Luzer discusses The Hamilton Project’s latest employment analysis, “Rising Student Debt Burdens: Factors Behind the Phenomenon.” In the analysis, the Project examines possible explanations for the recent increases in student debt and default rates. Luzer posits that one reason students may be contributing less for their education is that they are working in unpaid internships over the summer. “It used to be normal for college students to go home and work for the summer waiting tables or working on farms or serving as counselors at summer camps,” writes Luzer. He adds, “This is still, common, of course, but there are a lot more college students interning in the summer. And that means they’ve got less money to contribute to their education.” To read the full piece, click here.